Inertia register for vehicles



June 3, 1941. E. L. BACON INERTIA REGISTER FOR VEHICLES Filed June 15, 1958 Savucvflo EV/FEETTAEHCO/V.

Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,244,417 INERTIA REGISTER FOR VEHICLES Everett L. Bacon, Houston, Tex. Application June 13, 1938, Serial No. 213,556

2 Claims.

this specification panying drawing, in:

Figure 1 shows a vertical, sectional view of the apparatus taken on the line |-l of Figure 3.

Figure 2 shows a plan view thereof showing the cover plate in open position.

'gure 3 shows a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 shows the complete device as mounted on a vehicle.

Referring now casing may be formed Jy the hinge 1.

The mid portion of the top 5 may be cut away aving the opening 8 for access to, or inspection of, the registering devices.

osed by the lid or covering gin, is hinged to an upper This opening may be 9 which, at one marmargin of the side 2 shown in Figure 1. 7

Within the housing 20 between responding disc 32. Fixed on a transverse shaft 36, mounted in the housing 20, is the star wheel spur gear 38, the latter of which is in mesh with and drives the gear 33 and the corresponding disc 3!. Upon complete rotation of the disc 32 the star wheel 31 will be given a partial rotation by a projection mounted on the disc 32 so as to partially rotate the disc 3|. The discs 3!, 32' have the indicating numerals on their periphery from zero to 9 so that the two discs have a registering range from zero to ninetynine. In case the vehicle is started too suddenly the inertia of the weight l8 will cause it to strike the target 27 of the arm 2| actuating said arm to cause a partial rotation of the gear 34 and the corresponding disc 32. A count of the number of similar abnormal starts will thus be revealed by the registering device just described. The lid 9 is raised and then, when a taken the discs may be reset manual rotation of the gear 39 which is mounted on a suitable shaft 40 and which is in mesh with the gear 34.

As the vehicle attains normal speed the Weight i8 will roll back to its original position as shown in Figure l.

The stopping register includes the discs 41, 42 similar to the discs l, 32 and mounted to rotate on a common axis and having the gears 43, 44 fixed thereto. A dog 45 is pivoted at one end on the arm 22 and its other, or free, end cooperates with the gear or rotates the latter, each actuation of the arm 22. shaft 46, which is mounted to rotate in the housing there is the star wheel 41 and the adjacent spur gear 48, the latter of which is in mesh with the gear 43. Each rotation of the disc 42 imparts a partial rotation to the star wheel 41 in the conventional manner by a projection mounted on the disc 42 and to the gears 48, 4'3 and the disc 4|. The discs 4!, 42 have the marginal numbers on their periphery from zero to nine and consethe registering capacity from zero Of course, both registering de a greater number of quently have to ninety-nine. vices may be composed of discs if desired to increase the capacity thereof combined in the same manner as hereinabove indicated. The stop register may be set back to zero manually when a reading has been taken by manually turning the gear wheel 49 which is in mesh with the gear wheel 44.

Upon an abnormally sudden stop of the vehicle it will projected forwardly against the target 28 actuating the lever 22 and 45 to partially turn disc 42. Each additional abnormally sudden stop will add an additional movement and count, to the corresponding register. The weight l9, after being projected forwardly, will return to its original position by gravity. The arms 21, 22 are normally returned to original, or inactive, position by the pull springs 59, which are attached at their outer ends to the pivot ends of the arms 2|, 22 and at their inner ends to the top wall of the housing 20.

At intervals, for example, at the end of each trip, the lid 9 may be opened and the abnormal stops or starts made during the trip thus readily ascertained and the proficiency of the driver thus determined, and the counters may be reset in the manner hereinbefore described.

Between the targets 21, 28 and located in the therefrom are the flexible tongues 52, 53 which are connected, through the conductor 4 with an electrical source such as a battery 55 which may be grounded on the vehicle frame. Incorporated into the conductor 54 there is a signal device 56, such as an electric light globe. When the arms 2|, 22 are actuated they will be moved to electrical contact with the corresponding tongues 52, 53. These arms 2|, 22 are electrical conductors and are grounded on the casing at 5'1, 58 and upon contact of either arm with its corresponding tongue an electrical circuit will be completed through the warning light. The driver of the vehicle will therefore be informed of the register of abnormal starts and stops being made by him.

The register, when installed, should be level to insure its proper working. For that reason a level indicator 59 may be installed thereon.

The outer casing I should be made of aluminum or other non-magnetic material to prevent magnetic interference with the operation of the enclosed mechanism.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described for use on a motor vehicle, comprising an upwardly arched guide means, a counter, means for actuating the counter comprising a gear connected to the counter, a pivoted arm extending into the guide means, a pawl pivotally connected to the arm and adapted to engage and rotate said gear upon movement of said arm in one direction, yieldable means adapted to return said arm to the original position, said arm in original position whereby the pawl is allowed to engage another tooth on the gear, a freely movable body in the guide means effective to actuate said arm and pawl, to actuate the counter upon abnormal operation of the vehicle supporting the device.

2. In a device of the character described for use on a motor vehicle, comprising an upwardly arched tube forming a guide having a lengthwise slot in the upper side thereof, a counter, means for actuating the counter including a gear connected to the counter, an arm pivoted at its upper end and whose lower end extends through guide, a pawl pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the arm and adapted to engage and rotate the gear upon movement of the arm in one direction, yieldable means connected to the arm to return said arm to its original position, a stop for limiting the return moveme f said arm whereby the pawl is allowed to engage another tooth on the gear, a freely movable body confined within the guide and effective, by its inertia, to actuate said arm and pawl and to thereby actuate the counter upon abnormal operation of the vehicle.

tube 16 but insulated EVERETT L. BACON. 

